New Hands-Free Law Does Not Apply To The Valley

Remember that law that you couldn’t talk and drive unless you had a hands-free device? Went into effect way back in 2008? I just learned today that it was never adopted by the cities of the San Fernando Valley.

Here, you can talk and drive and talk and text and talk and turn and drive all you want. Especially if you’re pulling a converted U-Haul trailer full of landscaping equipment. Or if you’re a just bad driver that isn’t quite sure where the hell she’s going anyway. Turn left here? No, wait.. I think I turn right up there.. Or, maybe I’ll just continue weaving between two lanes until my destination finds me.

I consider myself blessed to have witnessed both of the aforementioned examples of the non-existent cell phone law within the span of one hour. It’s further proof that laws that apply to Los Angeles do not quite make it over the hill. Just like you Westsiders.

Photo From the L.A. Times of What Appears to Be a Valley Girl, Doing Valley Girl Things

The problem with the hands free law is the fact that it does nothing to address the real problem which is distracted driving. According to this law I can’t hold a phone to my ear but I can text message (as long as I’m 18). I can also hold a coffee cup in one hand, eat a burger, make waffles etc… It’s a bullshit law.

No kidding, cops don’t have time to deal with real criminals do you think they have the time to deal with the cell phone scofflaws? I hate to keep saying “told you so” but absent resources to enforce it won’t be.

I agree, it’s just way too many violent crimes being committed in the city, for cops to be writing another ticket. The lawmakers hearts were
in the right place, but the law just won’t fly, cell phones too much part of our daily lives now, old habits are hard to break.

But it finally gave me a reason to just turn off my phone and enjoy the radio again. Count me in as one who relished the sudden silence and lack of annoying calls. One of 10 in LA probably obeying the law.

I saw a guy that actually “drums” while drives. He holds a drumstick in each hand and plays on his dashboard as he drives. And I don’t know how he steers, maybe with a knee? I’ve seen him a couple of times now….

It sounds like this will be kind of like the broken tail light law — definitely something you can get a ticket for and an easy excuse for cops to pull you over if you appear “suspicious.”

One of those shady Jiffy Lube guys once tried to get me to let him change my back window brake light and tried to convince me by saying I could get a ticket. At the time, I was a cops reporter, so I asked the traffic Lt. — can I get a ticket for that? He told me point blank that I *could* but really its a bullsh*t ticket they use to pull over people who look suspicious.

wait a minute. cities of the san fernando valley are just what exactly? most “communities” within the SFV are districts of the city of los angeles, save for burbank, glendale, universal city, san fernando (city proper). so where exactly are you talking about?